the times Saturday December 18 20214Weekend
Polgooth Inn
Polgooth, St
Austell, Cornwall
This charming 16th-century
rural pub overlooks
stunning, unspoilt
countryside. The rustic
interior, with its exposed
stone walls and
collection of vintage
artefacts, is warmed by a
wood-burning stove and
an open fireplace and is
the perfect spot for a pint
of Cornish ale after a
stroll through the nearby
Pentewan Valley.
Details 01726 74089;
polgoothinn.co.uk
Shibden Mill Inn
Shibden, West Yorkshire
Enjoy a pint of locally made cask bitter
by the open fire in the bar, with its
stone walls and exposed beams. This
characterful converted 17th-century corn
mill (named the best pub in Yorkshire at
the National Pub and Bar awards) is
nestled in West Yorkshire’s stunning
Shibden Valley.
Details 01422 365840; shibdenmillinn.com
The Boot Inn
Lapworth, Warwickshire
Set in beautiful countryside, this
charming village pub features a low,
wood-beamed
ceiling, wooden
floor and bar, a
fireplace and lots of
cosy nooks
to relax into with a
pint of cask ale or
carafe of wine.
Details
01564 782464;
bootinnlapworth
.co.ukThe Bear
Hotel
Crickhowell,
PowysExplore the
picturesque town or
venture further afield into the beautiful
Usk valley, then settle into the
comfortable, traditional surroundings
of this award-winning 500-year-old bar.
There are exposed beams, open
fireplaces and craft ales, local cider,
30 varieties of whisky and an extensive
wine list. The locally sourced gastropub
grub might include Welsh faggots,
onion gravy, chips and mushy peas.
Details 01873 810408; bearhotel.co.ukThe Gas Bar, the
Bushmills Inn
Bushmills, Co Antrim
It doesn’t get much more cosy than
sitting in a wooden rocking chair by the
open peat fire in the gas-lit bar of thishistoric coaching inn, a few miles south
of the Giant’s Causeway. The tipple of
choice here is the whiskey that’s made in
the village, in Ireland’s oldest working
distillery — or a pint of the black stuff,
of course.
Details 028 2073 3000; bushmillsinn.comThe Great Shefford
Nr Hungerford, BerkshireThere are leather sofas and chairs, a
wood-burner in the fireplace and hand-
pulled local ales at the bar at this village
pub. Horse racing enthusiasts can keep
up with festive action on the widescreen
TV in the dedicated racing lounge (the
pub is in the Lambourn valley, a centre
for breeding and training racehorses).
Details 01488 648462;
thegreatshefford.comThe White Hart
Godstone Green,
Surrey
Built in the heart of
the village and
overlooking the
green and pond,
this grade II listed
16th-century
coaching inn
makes for a warm
and inviting festive
retreat with locally
brewed beers at
the bar and sofas and
armchairs arranged
around a large fireplacewith wood-burning stove.
Details 01883 742521;
thewhitehartongodstonegreen.comThe Snowdrop Inn
Lewes, East SussexThis cheerful, welcoming pub in
the pretty town of Lewes, with its
boutiques and antique shops, is the
perfect place to escape for a few hours
over Christmas. The wooden interior,
reminiscent of an Alpine cabin and hung
with vintage paraphernalia, provides a
suitably festive feel. Lovers of craft beer
and real ale won’t be disappointed by
the huge range, including Burning Sky
from nearby Firle.
Details 01273 471018The Devonshire Arms
Beeley, Derbyshire
Blow away the festive cobwebs
with a walk across open
countryside from the
village, then repair to
this traditional 18th-
century village inn
near Chatsworth
House on the
Chatsworth
estate, with its
low-beamed
ceiling and log-
burner, for a hand-
pulled cask ale at the
copper-topped bar.
Details 01629 733259;
devonshirebeeley.co.ukw
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Shefford, BerkshireThe Bear Hotel, PowysPolgooth Inn, Cornwall The Gas Bar, the Bushmills Inn, Co Antrim‘Sofas are arranged by the fire in this old coaching inn’
TIM JONESChristmas special